Ments



(No Model.)

B. RANK. FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 529,462. Patented Nov. 20, 1894'.

Ilnrrnn S'rn'rns PATENT anion.

ERDMANN BANK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO ANNA HUMANN, OF SAME PLACE.

FIRE=ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 529,462, dated November 20, 1 89 1.

Application filed September 15, 1 894. Serial No. 523,160. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ERDMANN RANK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago,

in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in devices designed as a means of escape from buildings in case of fire, its object being to provide a device which may be employed ordinarily as a chair and which can in a few minutes, in case of danger, be attached to a suitable support and utilized as a carrier to convey persons to the ground.

My invention consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention,- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a chair provided with a fire escape constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a'sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view.

Referring now to said drawings, A represents the chair having a strong frame. Underneath the seat of same the drum 2 is journaled in bearings 3 secured to opposite sides of said chair A. Said drum 2 is subdivided by means of circumferential ribs at and 5 into five spaces. In the end spaces the supporting ropes 6 are wound, the ends of which are carried up through funnel shaped guides 7, secured to said chair, and through the eyes of the arms 8, secured to the back of said chair, and secured at their ends to a rod 9 which is adapted to be secured to a suitable support. The said arms 8 are held in a horizontal position by spring catches 1O engaging the rear ends of said arms.

In the intermediate space between the ribs 4 the hoisting rope is oppositely wound, the free end of which depends from the device. The narrow spaces between the ribs 4 and 5 receive the brakes 11, which are fixed to the chair and actuated by springs 12, as hereinafter described. Said brakes 11 consist of speed of descent most suitable.

straps 13 secured at one end to the rear end portion of the seat of the chair and running thence downwardly over the narrow spaces between the ribs 4: and 5 and are secured at the other ends to cams or eccentrics 13 secured to a shaft 14 journaled in bearings 15 on the front legs of the chair. Secured to said shaft 1 1, adjacent said cams or eccentries, and extending upwardly therefrom are two arms 16 to which the ends of the springs 12 are secured, the other ends of said springs being secured to the rear end portion of the seat of the chair. Obviously the said springs 12 will cause the straps 13 to bear against the drum and prevent the same from turning. Secured to one end of said shaft 14 is a hand lever 17 by means of which said brakes 11 can be released and controlled at the will of the occupant of the chair. Said lever 17 is adapted to be engaged by notches in a plate 18 secured to one arm of the chair (Fig. 4:). Said plate 18 is adjustably secured to an arm of said chair by means of screws passing through slots 19 in said plate, thus allowing same'a horizontal movement. Secured to the rear end of said plate is a screw-threaded pin or rod 20 upon which a thumb-screw 21 runs. Said thumbscrew 21 is held against longitudinal movement by a bifurcated plate 22 secured to the arm of the chair and project ing on either side of the said thumb-screw 21.

The hand lever 17 is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 2 by the springs 12, and when it is desired to release the brakes from the drum it is only necessary to push said lever forward andhold it in the position in which the occupant of the chair finds the When the chair has reached the ground and it is desired to hoist same it is necessary that the brakes be entirely released to allow free action to the drums, and for this purpose I provide a notch 23 in the forward end portion of the plate to engage said hand lever and hold it in the position in which'said brakes are entirely released.

I claim as my invention-=- 1. The combination with a chair, of a drum journaled underneath the seat of same, ropes wound upon said drum and adapted to be se cured to a supporting device, a hoisting rope oppositely wound upon said drum, brakes secured to said chair and bearing upon said drum, said brakes consisting of strapssecured at one end to the rear end portion of the chair and at their other ends to cams or eccentrics secured to a shaft journaled in bearings upon said chair, means for applying and releasing said brakes consisting of springs secured to upwardly extending arms upon said shaft and at their other ends to the rear end portions of the chair, and a hand lever secured to said shaft, and a plate 18 secured to one arm of the chair adapted to engage the said hand lever and hold same against the action of the springs, thus releasing the brakes, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a chair, of a revoluble drum mounted thereon and provided with ropes or strands for hoisting and allowing the same to descend, a brake for said drum controlled by a hand lever, and an adjustable notched plate 18 upon said chair for engagement with said hand lever, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a chair, of a revolubledrurn mounted thereon and provided with ropes or strands for hoisting and allowing the same to descend, a brake for said drum controlled by a hand lever, a slotted plate 18 secured to the arm of the chair by pins passing through said slots, a screwthreaded rod 20 upon said plate 18, a thumb screw upon said rod 20, abit'urcated plate 22 upon the arm of the chair holding said thumb screw, and notches in said plate 18 for engagement with said hand lever, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses,

ERDMANN RANK.

Witnesses:

RUDOLPH WM. Lorz, ARTHUR O. LOTZ. 

